Trace-fastening



Patented Mar. 28, I899.

J. MEALEY.

TRACE FASTENING.

(Application fiJed May 17, 1898.)

(No Modal.)

FIC-hl.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 5.-

INVENTDR WITNESSES .=JOHNSTN MERLE) m: NoRms PETERS en. FHOTDLITMO..WASHINGYON, o. c.

Nrrn STATES FFFFECQ PATENT JOHNSTON MEALEY, on HOWARD LAKE, MINNESOTA,ASSGNOR on ONE- HALF .TO JOHN F. MCDONALD, on MINNEAPOLS, MINNESOTA.

TRACE-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 621,838, dated Mareh 28,1899. Application filed May 17, 1898. Seral No. 680,917. (No modal.)

T0 roll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHNSTON l\/IEALEY, of Howard Lake, Vright oounty,State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and nseful Improvements inTng or Trace Fastenin gs, of whioh the following is a speoifieation.

This invention relates to nieans for fastening harness tugs or tracesnpon whiffietrees.

The object of the invention is to provide means for seourely attachingthe tug to the whiffletree, and, f urther, to provide a tug-fasteningupon the whiffietree Whioh Will tend to lift or level the whiffletree,and, further, to provide a device whioh Will hold the slaok end of atug.

The invention oonsists generally in the combination, With thewhiifletree, of a thimble thereon provided with a downwardly-extendingheaded hook Whereon the whiflietree S' arranged and also provided With adownwardly-bent hook t0 engage the upper edge of a mg, and therebyprevent the tug from slipping f1om said hook when the tu g is slackened.

The invention furth er consiste in the combination, with the foregoing,of an additional hookor fastening upon the inner end of said thimble tocarry the slaek end of a tng, all as hereinafter desoribed, andpartioularly pointed out in the elaims.

The invention Will be more readily understood by referenoe to theaocompanyingdrawings, forming part of this speoifioation, and in whiohFigure 1 is an end view of a tug-fastener or whiffletree-end finishembodying 1ny invention. Fig. 2 is a.plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and4 are respeotively end and plan views of the deviee adapted forsword-end whiffletrees. Figs. 5 and 6 illnstrate the form of the devicewhennsed upon whiffletrees having polygonal ends. Fig. 7 is aperspective view showing the tng in place upon the end of theWhiffietree.

As shown in the drawings, the thimble or sleeve 2 is made to oonform tothe shape of the end of the whiffletree 3, whether it be round, oblong,or polygonal in cross-=section. On the end of the thimble is thedownwardly eurved or bent hook 4, the npright portion of whioh liesclose to the end of the thimble or sleeve, only snffioientroom beingallowed between the two parts to admit the thiekness of the tug or trace5. The tug or trace is secnred upon the forwardly-extending hook orfinger 6, projecting from the forward side of the thimble and having aT-head 7 to retain the tug after it is slipped over the same. Upon theinner end and rear side of the thimble is a hook or finger 8, whieh isadapted to hold the end of the tug, as shown in Fig. 7. The hook 8 ispreferably raised above the lower side of the thimble, so that the endof the tug is lifted and thus held np filml in the hook 4. The T-head 7and the hook 4 efiectually hold the trace or tug against the end of thewhiffietree, and the pull of the trace is direoted upon the whiffletreeat a point forward of the front side thereof and forward of the pivot ofthe whifietree, so that the tendeney is to tilt or turn the whiffietreeback, and thus level it and overoome the strain that tends to tilt itforward upon its pivot-bearing.

All parts of the device are preferably integral; but the small hook 8may, if desired, be separate and be in the form of a hook, bo1t, orscrew that may pass through the thimble and through the Whiffietree, andthus serve t0 secure the sleeve or thimble 2 upon the whiffletree, otherfastenings being dispensed With, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Havng thus desoribed n1y invention, I olaim as new and desire to seoureby Letters Patent 1.. The fastening herein desoribed, comprising thethimble or sleeve 2, the clownwardly bent or tnrned hook 4 on the endthereof, and the hook or finger 6 projecting from the forward side ofsaid sleeve or thim ble and provided With a retaining-head.

2. The herein-desoribed trace or tug fas= tening, comprising the thimbleor sleeve 2, the downwardlyextending 11001: or finger 4 on the endthereof, and the forwardly-extending and outwardIy-turned hook or finger6, provided With a T-head 7, substantially in line Wth the outer part ofthe said hook 4, substantially as described. V

3. The combination, With a whiffletree having straight ends, of thimblesarranged upon said ends, hooks or fingers 6 projeeting from 1110 forwnrdsides of snid thimbles and having outwardly-cuvved ends provided Wthheads 7 t0 remn the tngs upon said ends, downwardl y-curved hooks 4provided on the outer ends of said thimbles, said heads beingsubstantially in line with the oxiter parts of said cnrved hooks, thespaces between the up1ight portions 0f snid hooks 4: and the ends ofsaid thimbles eorresponding snbstantially 130 the thickness of a tugwhereby the same will be firmly held against the ends of theWhifflet1ee, substnncially as described.

4.. The combination, With a whifletree, of a sleeve 01 thi1nble 2provided on the end thereof, a hook or finger 6 projeeting from theforward side of snid hook or thimble and having an ontwardly-eurved endprovided with a head 7 t0 retain the tug in position on said hook, adownwmdly-eurved hook 4 provided on said thimble, the end of said hook 6being in advance of the pivotal point of said whiflletree andsubstantially in line with said hook 4:, a space being formed betweenthe upright portion of said hook 41 and the end of said thimblecorresponding substantal1y 130 the thickness of a tug, and anupwardly-curved hook 8 provided on the rear side of snid thimble and al:01' nom its inner end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 20th day ofApril, 1898, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

JOHNSION MEALEY.

In presenee of C. G. IIAWLEY, M. E. GOOLEY.

